"Old You, don't refuse. Old Zhao is just like that. If you're so polite, and Old Zhao stops associating with you in the future, don't expect me to be the mediator between you two."
Having known Zhao Youcai for so long, Factory Director Niu understood him all too well. Sometimes, even Factory Director Niu couldn't understand why someone so outstanding could still admire so many people less capable than himself.
Zhao Youcai's frequent displays of genuine admiration puzzled him.
There's no way around it; we're just natives born and raised in the 1960s. How could we possibly understand the mental journey of people from the 21st century?
"Alright then, I'll shamelessly accept it."
Old You thanked him again, and then Old Qin took over the conversation and formally introduced the Qian Sui Festival to Zhao Youcai.
"This year's Thousand Ears Festival is much larger than the last one. In addition to representatives from countries with which we have diplomatic relations, businesspeople from many other countries will also be attending the festival."
"Last time, only sixteen provinces participated in the Thousand Ears Festival, and most of them brought local specialties. Apart from buying some medicinal herbs, those foreigners didn't bring anything else back with them."
Zhao Youcai nodded, his expression becoming more serious.
He knew all too well the true colors of those foreigners. When he researched online before, he knew how arrogant those foreigners were, and that condescending attitude had persisted for decades since the founding of China.
"Fewer provinces participated in the Thousand Ears Festival this year, but after looking into it, most of them were still selling local specialties. There's no way around it; some things that are vital to the nation's future should never be shown on such occasions."
For example, we don't even have enough of things like oil and steel in our own country, so how can we possibly sell them abroad?
"When we found out that you had actually come up with such a great product as instant noodles, we were all incredibly excited. We felt that this export order might be saved thanks to you."
A few years ago, the enamelware factory sold washbasins at the Thousand Harvest Festival. Apart from two that were printed with big red "double happiness" characters, the rest were simply taken back home the same way they were taken there.
The cardboard box factory fared even worse. Not only did no one buy from them from beginning to end, but they were also criticized and called a bunch of lowlifes in China, with even junk sellers coming to their aid.
The textile factory fared slightly better, selling a few bolts of silk whose cost price was only a few dollars less than the purchase price, but not a single piece of other fabric was sold.
The steel mill, on the other hand, was there to support Lao Qi throughout the entire process, doing all the work for him.
Zhao Youcai knew that foreigners were suppressing China severely these days, but he never expected the suppression to be this severe.
“In recent years, the neighboring small countries have been quite unruly and causing a lot of trouble. You may not be clear about the intricacies involved, so I can only give you a simple explanation.”
Zhao Youcai nodded, and then he heard Director Qin of the enamel factory continue:
"The situation between Russia and the United States has been extremely tense in recent years, and they both have the potential to shift their main battleground to other regions. Our country has a large area, and in recent years we have discovered a lot of resources, which they are envious of."
It is a country with a history spanning thousands of years; its cultural heritage is undeniable.
It has only been eleven years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, and this is still a very difficult time.
Russia, our big brother, withdrew all its support for China after a change of leadership, while the United States is constantly helping this country and supporting that country, and is getting increasingly adept at remotely raising its adopted sons.
If China does not respond and let the world know its stance, the country will only be reduced to a war zone once again.
The people are already suffering so much; they can't suffer any more.
"If we can earn more foreign exchange this time, the customs tax revenue alone will be substantial. Whether the extra money is invested in the military or in the military industry to manufacture weapons and equipment, it will strengthen China."
Modern China lacks everything; research requires funding for everything.
The country is short of money, and the people are starving; these are the obvious difficulties.
In recent years, while continuously providing support to border countries, we have also been harassed by some ungrateful neighboring countries. The national finances simply cannot keep up.
Although Zhao Youcai was a person from later generations, he knew that China would become stronger and stronger, and would regain its high position in a few decades.
He was well aware of the current situation; even after reading only a few hundred or a thousand pieces of written material, he could see how difficult and bitter it was.
Now that he has arrived here, as a citizen of China, he must contribute his share to the country.
Only when the motherland prospers can families and individuals gain more benefits.
Thinking of this, Zhao Youcai immediately stood up, walked behind his desk, sat down, picked up the notebook and pencil on the desk, and began to draw.
Before long, he handed the sketches in his hand to Factory Director Qin and Factory Director You, and didn't forget to help explain them.
"I don't know if you can understand the dimensions and styles shown above, or even if you can make them. If you can, you two could collaborate this time to create custom or high-end items for sale."
In addition to the enamel basin design, Zhao Youcai's sketches for Factory Director Qin also included enamel coffee cups, exquisite enamel round plates, and square plates.
"If you can make the matching enamel spoons, you can make a few as well. We'll make smaller versions of the spoons we normally use for drinking soup, and also more refined versions specifically for stirring coffee in a cup."
The gift box provided to Factory Director You had brand new packaging and material requirements, including a pure black hardwood box and a high-grade Chinese red box.
Some gift boxes were special. Zhao Youcai even found a piece of paper, cut off a portion of it according to the pattern of straw paper, and made it into a sealable box like the ones used to pack fried chicken in later generations.
The eyes of the people in the room lit up instantly.
If all these exquisite items were made and assembled together, they would definitely fetch a good price!
Just looking at the packaging, it looks high-end, classy, and expensive, right?
"Aside from putting a little more effort into the molds, the cost at the enamelware factory hasn't changed much."
The implication is that if you make money, you'll make a fortune; you simply can't lose money.
Factory manager You nodded repeatedly, saying that even if the boxes couldn't be sold to foreigners during the Thousand Harvest Festival, it wouldn't hinder the development of the local market.
Zhao Youcai thought about his instant noodle factory, which also needed packaging.
"I wonder if your cardboard box factory takes orders from instant noodle factories? I'd like to order a batch of instant noodle boxes, preferably the kind that can have the product name and contact number printed on them."
"No problem! Just tell me how many you want."
Factory Manager Niu looked on with envy, lamenting that his own factory was struggling to find any work. Unexpectedly, Zhao Youcai's next words were directed straight at him.
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